Practice machine



PRACTICE MACHINE Filed June 22; 1934 //vvewroRs M55661? BEASLEY Q JAMES A. COFFEE S Patented May 18, 1937 PRACTICE MACHINE Mercer Beasley, Princeton, and James A. Coffee,

,Lawrenceville, N. J.

Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,992

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a practice machine and more particularly to that type of practice machine which is constructed for the purpose of throwing a ball, such as a tennis ball, base ball, or other missile.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient practice machine which is especially adapted for use by tennis and base ball players wherein a ball may be thrown from the machine and delivered to a predetermined point upon a tennis court, base ball diamond, or other playing field.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a simple and efficient means for facilitating the delivery of a ball from the practice machine whereby the ball may be controlled for throwing a fast or slow ball, as well as an in or out curve. I

A still further object of the invention is the production of a simple and efficient ball-throwing machine which may be so adjusted as to throw either a high or low ball and also which may be regulated for controlling the speed of the ball.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the practice machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, a certain portion being shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the upper end of one of the throwing arms;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the ball-carrying loop or member illustrating the ball in position and the various adjusted positions of the loop to control the throwing of an in or an out curve; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the practice machine and end closure therefor. I

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that l0 designates the frame of the practice machine which preferably comprises a base H of a relatively wide fiat type having an upwardly extending forward panel l2 at its forward end, the panel l2 carrying a rearwardly extending top panel IS, the top panel l3 extending substantially parallel in spaced relation to the base I I, as shown in Figure 1. The frame l0 may be formed of any suitable or desired material which may be found convenient and advisable. The base H is provided near each corner with an internally threaded socket M of any suitable or desired type and in these sockets M are removably threaded extension legs IS, the extension legs I5 carrying at their lower ends suitable sponge-rubber treads or grips It for the purpose of facilitating the moving of the device over the court without injury to the surface thereof. The extension legs l5 may be suitably adjusted through the medium of suitable binding bolts I1 and through the medium of these extension legs the frame, l0 may be adjusted to the desired level whereby one end may be raised and the other lowered, if desired, for the purpose of facilitating the throwing of a high or a low ball through the medium of the throwing arms which are carried by the frame ID which will be hereinafter described. V

Along the rear edge l8 of the upper panel I3 is arranged a thickened rubber' or other resilient 1r bumper l9, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Located upon the upper face of the base II and at a point approximately below the bumper l8, as shown in the drawing, are arranged three journal members 20, each journal member comprising a vertically extending tongue 2|; Over each vertically extending tongue 2| is fitted a bifurcated hinging member 22, the bifurcated hinging members being pivotally secured to the v tongues 2| by means of suitable journal pins 23 to permit the free swinging of the hinging members 22 upon the tongues 2 I. Each hinging member 22 is internally threaded for the purpose of receiving a threaded throwing arm 24', and these H throwing arms 24 are of sufficient length to reach from the hinging members 22 and extend beyond e the bumper l8 so as to contact with the bumper I8 when the arms 24 are swung to a vertical position. A uni-on 25 is threaded uponthe upper end or outer end of each throwing arm 24 and this union 25 is provided with a centrally. located aperture for the purpose of receiving the ball-engaging or supporting loop 26. This ballsupportingor engagingloop 26 is preferably formed of wire and is provided with depending shank portions 21, which shank portions extend into the upper end of the throwing arm 24, the arm 24 preferably being hollow and a suitable binding screw 28 is employed for locking the ball-engaging loop in a vertically adjusted position with respect to the arm 24. A ball 29 is adapted to be placed within the loop 26 and since the loop 26 is preferably formed of wire or other similar material,

the ball will be easily held in position and at the same time may be thrown from the loop as a result of the impact of the throwing arm against the bumper l8. Due to the fact that the loop 26 is provided with two depending shank portions it will be seen that the loop may be normally slight- 1y smaller than the diameter of the ball which it is adapted to support, to allow the loop to slightly expand when the ball is forced within the loop and thereby frictionally hold the ball against accidental displacement. The ball, however, is only held sufiiciently tight to prevent accidental displacement and to permit at the same time a proper throwing of the ball from the loop as a result of the impact of the throwing arm 24 with the bumper I8.

It should be understood that any suitable number of these throwing arms may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention although it may be found practical to employ three of such arms, as illustrated, one of which may be used for throwing a ball at high speed, the second to be used for throwing a slower ball, and the third for throwing a still slower ball. The speed at which the ball may be thrown may be regulated by the amount of swing produced upon the arm as well as the strength of the tension bands secured thereto, which bands are hereinafter described.

Each throwing arm 24 preferably carries a suitable band engaging eye 30 and a series of suitable eyes 3| are carried by the vertically extending panel 12 along the inner face thereof. A rubber or other resilient or similar band 32 is secured to each eye of each arm 24 and the opposite ends of the respective bands 32 are secured or anchored to the eyes 3|. As stated above, thesebands may vary as to their elasticity to regulate or vary the speed of the swing of the arms 24 to which the bands are attached, or the speed may be regulated by the length of thearc of the swing of the arm which carries the ball to be delivered.

The base Il may carry suitable latches 33 of any suitable or desired type, which latches may be actuated to overhang the arms 24 for the purpose of holding the arms in a horizontal position until it is desired to swing the arms.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

The practice machine may be set up at a desired position and adjusted as to height and angle to deliver the desired type of ball, that is to say, high ball, or low ball. A ball is then placed within the loop 26carried by each arm 24, and the arms 24 may be swung to the horizontal position, such as is shown, if desired, and held in this position until the operator is ready to deliver the ball. When it is desired to deliver the ball, the desired arm 24 is released from its securing latch 33, and the arm 24 is allowed to swing to the desired angle position depending upon the speed of the ball to be delivered, whereupon the operator will release the arm and the elastic spring 32 will swing the arm 24 to a vertical position where the impact of the arm against the resilient bumper l9 will cause the ball to be ejected from the supporting loop 26 and delivered in the manner as shown in Figure l to a desired point of destination, such for instance as the desired location upon a tennis court or other playing field. The ball may be caused to curve inwardly or outwardly by merely changing the angle of the loop, such as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. It should be understood that the shank portions 21 are formed of steel spring wire to produce a motion similar to the motion of the human wrist when throwing and greatly add to the speed of the ball as the arm carrying the ball strikes the bumper l9.

By referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the frame I0 constitutes a carrying case, the open end 34 of which may be closed by means of a removable closure 35. This closure 35 may be secured in place by means of the hooks 36 or any other suitable fastening means. A handle 31 is provided to facilitate the carrying of the device. The arms 24 are secured in a horizontal position by means of the latches 33 prior to placing the closure 35 in position.

It is not desired to limit the use of this invention for the purpose of a tennis practice machine for the reason that it may be utilized for the purpose of throwing base balls or other playing objects or missiles without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a throwing arm, a resilient missile-engaging member carried by said arm, said missile-engaging member being formed of a strand of spring wire and consisting of an outer missile-engaging loop terminating in closely fitted substantially parallel spring shank portions secured to said throwing arm for providing a resiliently connected missile support for said arm in and for the purpose specified.

2. A device of the class described comprising a throwing arm, said arm having a longitudinally extending socket formed in its outer end, a missile-engaging member formed from spring wire and consisting of an elongated outer loop portion, the ends of the wire being brought close together and extending in substantially parallel relation to form an elongated resilient shank, the ends of the wire constituting the shank fitting within the longitudinally extending socket formed in the arm, the shank being rotatable within the socket to change the angular position of said loop, and means carried by said throwing arm and engaging said shank for locking said shank in its longitudinally as well as its rotatably adadjusted positions.

3. A device of the class described comprising a throwing arm, said arm having a longitudinally extending socket formed in its outer end, a missile-engaging member formed from spring wire and consisting of an elongated outer loop'portion, the ends of the wire being brought close together and extending in substantially parallel relation to form an elongated resilient shank, the ends of the wire constituting the shank fitting within the longitudinally extending socket formed in the arm, the shank being rotatable within the socket to change the angular position of said loop, means carried by said throwing arm and engaging said shank for locking said shank in its longitudinally as well as its rotatably adjusted positions, and the loop being expansible to permit a missile to be forced into the loop and frictionally gripped by the loop to permit the supporting of a missile against accidental displacementand also to permit a missile to be thrown from engagement with the loop when said arm is brought to a sudden rest.

4. A device of the class described comprising a support, a throwing arm hingedly secured upon said support for swinging movement thereon, tension means automatically throwing said arm from one position to a second position when said arm is released, a bumper supported in a position. for contact with said arm when the arm.

is thrown to a second position to bring said arm suddenly to rest, a spring missile-supporting member adjustably mounted upon said arm and releasably engaging a missile for frictionally holding the missile in position and causing the missile to be suddenly released and thrown from the missile-supporting member when said arm is suddenly brought to rest by said bumper, the missile supporting member having a relatively narrow resilient shank to provide a means for delivering the missile in a manner similar to the action of the human wrist.

5. A missile-throwing device comprising an elongated resilient shank adapted to be engaged by a throwing arm and project for a substantial portion of its length beyond said arm, and friction gripping missile-engaging means carried by said resilient shank and adapted to releasably engage a missile, and frictionally and firmly grip a missile and hold a missile against accidental disengagement as the throwing arm is swung, the resilient shank providing an elongated flexing means for throwing a missile .in a manner similar to the action of the human wrist.

6. A missile-throwing device comprising a throwing arm, resilient missile-supporting means carried by said arm, said missile-supporting means comprising an elongated resilient shank projecting beyond the end of said arm to provide a definite flexing means, and resilient missile-clamping means carried by the shank for holding a missile against accidental release while said throwing arm is being swung, and releasing a missile when the throwing arm is brought to an abrupt stop.

,7. A missile-throwing device comprising a throwing arm, missile-supporting means carried by said arm, said missile-supporting means comprising substantially parallel closely fitting resilient shank'portions projecting beyond the end of said arm to provide for the longitudinal flexing of said shank portions; the shank portions terminating at their outer ends in resilient mis- 8. A missile-throwing device comprising a throwing arm, resilient missile-supporting means I carried by said arm, said missile-supporting means comprising an elongated resilient shank projecting beyond the end of said arm to provide a definite flexing means, 'said shank being longitudinally and rotatably adjustable upon said arm, means for locking said shank in its longitudinally as well as its rotatably adjusted position, and resilient missile-gripping means carried by the shank for providing a resiliently connected missile support for said arm in and for r the purpose specified.

MERCER BEASLEY. JAMES A. COFFEE. 

